“The show must go on” has become a mantra for Greta Constantine designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong. Since the COVID-19 crisis began, the pair have thrown themselves into their work, tweaking their designs to suit customers’ needs and doubling down on a cheery aesthetic. “We’re just doing our job,” shared Pickersgill via Zoom. “Developing, creating, and understanding what our path is. This isn’t a new normal, it’s just normal.” The Greta Constantine version of the habitual is noticeably dressier than what many of their peers are offering at present. Though they briefly considered a foray into casual, Pickersgill and Wong decided such a shift would feel inauthentic. “It just isn’t a part of our brand DNA,” says Pickersgill. “Our woman is looking for fun, color, and happiness.”
The duo focused their spring output on bright colors, playful silhouettes, and in-depth exploration of ruffles to cater to those needs. Of the 17 looks in their latest collection, only one lacks the embellishment—though the billowing acid green blouse and trouser combo was equally ostentatious. For minimalists, such an abundance of detail might feel frou-frou, but fans of Pickersgill and Wong’s will find it familiar. The number of fabrications may have been pared down to just two, and neons have replaced resort’s icy pastels, but there’s a fanciful spirit that unites the bulk of the brand’s output. Connecting that idea with the desire for comfort espoused by consumers took work. “We did our research. We went to department stores, and they were telling us that everyone wants comfort, loungewear, or sweats,” says Pickersgill. “The reality is you have that in your closet already; those clothes don’t necessarily make you want to shop. So we decided to do what we do best and provide our version of comfort.”
Their take on easy dressing was less about coziness and more about cheer. It would be hard to feel dour in the splashy mix of magenta and lavender the pair used on cigarette pants and floor-length shirt dresses. Were the red carpet in full swing, you could expect to see these pieces on women like Angela Bassett or Ava Duvernay, but at present, few events warrant dressing up. Still, for Pickersgill, the emotion matters more than the occasion. “I made a point about having the model smile in our lookbook because that’s what we need to see right now,” he says. “When she’s smiling, you’re smiling, and that’s what we’re pushing.”